Umbrella



J. J. CLARK Jan. 1, 1929.

UMBRELLA Filed May 26, 1924 F abb/ g \fo/ uz J. war/c 39 f M 1 PatentedJan. 1, 1929.

ries.

JOHN J. CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

UMBRELLA.

Application filed May 26, 1924. Serial No. 715,771.

This invention relates to improvements in umbrellas, and has for itsprincipal object to provide an umbrella which may be cheaply constructedand which may be convene iently folded to form a small parcel when notin use.

Further objects relate to various features of arrangement andconstruction of parts, which will become apparent from a consid- 1eration of the following specification and the accompanying drawings,wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of the lower side of the top or shelterportion of the umbrella.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification of myinvention.

Fig. 4 is a further modification of my. invention.

Similar reference characters are used throughout to indicate likeelements.

is the top or shelter portion of my umbrella which may be made of anysuitable waterproof material, either cloth or paper which may be treatedto make the same impervious to moisture.

Radially arranged on the underside of top 10 are provided a plurality ofsupporting ribs 11 of light material, such as thin strips of wood. Ribs11 are secured by means of pieces of tape 12 to top 10 adjacent thecenter thereof and by additional transverse strips of tape 13 and 14, asshown. The strips 13 and 14 are preferably not attached to ribs 11thereby permitting radial movement of said ribs in closing or openingthe umbrella. An opening is provided in the center of the top throughwhich a handle 15 may be inserted. A pair of disks or plates 16 and 17which may be of light material, such as wood or stifi' fibre board, aredisposed, one on either side of the top, for rigidly supporting thesame, a pin 18, or the like, passing through 45 a small opening in thetop of handle 15, preventing the upper disk 16 from being pushed fromthe top of the handle- A sleeve or slide member 19 supports the lowerdisk 17 firmly against the lower surface of top 10 and the ends of thesupporting ribs 11, said member 19 being retained in clamping positionby means of the spring latch 20. The umbrella may be lowered bydepressing latch 20, permitting sleeve 19 and disk 17 to slidedownwardly on handle 15. The

the other, or be otherwise constructed in such manner that the same maybe carried conveniently with the folded umbrella, as will be clear. Theslide member 19 may be formed integrally with disk 17 or be securedthereto, or it may be omitted, if desirable, the latch 20, in such case,directly coacting with disk 17 to secure the same inoperative position.

The form shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that just described, except thatthe inner ends of the supporting ribs 11 are secured to a smallapertured disk 23 by means of strips of tape 12, or the like. The top ofthe umbrella shown in Fig. 3 will be supported between disks, similar todisks 16 and 17, shown in Fig. 2 and may be folded along similar creasedlines 21 as in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification comprising a top and reinforcing ribssecured to a central apertured disk 23, as shown in Fig. 3 for instance,the upper disk 16 being permanently secured to handle'15 as by glue. Afollower 19 having a supporting flange 19 which functions similarly todisk 17 of the previous modifications, is adapted to be held in firmcontact with ribs 11 by latch 20, as shown. This type of umbrella may beraised or lowered similarly to umbrellas in common use at the presenttime and may be made so inexpensively that they can be used. for anemergency and thrown away.

Although I have shown certain forms and modifications for the purpose ofillustration, it will be obvious that further forms may be devised whichdo not depart from the spirit of my invention, and I do not thereforewish to be restricted to the specific embodiments of my invention hereindescribed except where limitations thereto appear in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is r 1. An umbrella comprising a top of relatively stiffmaterial scored to fold on predetermined lines, a plurality ofreinforcing ribs attached to said top, each rib being centrally disposedbetween two adjacent lines, a handle for said top, and a pair of discson said handle, one disposed on each side of said top, said discsserving-to clamp the inner ends=of said reinforcing ribs there'-between' to hold the same in top; supporting relation. p

2. An umbrella comprisinglatop of relatively stifl material scored tofold'on pre' determined lines, a plurality of reinforcing;

ribs for supporting the same, each rib being centrally disposed between;two adjacent lines, a handle for said top, and a pair of discs on said'handleyone' disposed one' each side of'said top, said "discs servinglto:clamp, the inner end-s of'said reinforcing iribsthere-r between to holdthe same in top supporting relation.

3.-An emergencyumbrella comprising a top adapted to fold onpredetermined radial lines, a plurality of relatively flat ribs forsupporting the top, each rib being disposed between two of saidlines-and being secured atom of itsv flat sides to the top, at spacedpoints along its length, said ribs being unconnected one to the otherand terminating at theirinner' endsshort of the center of the top,--,areadily removable handle passing through the center of the top, and apair of disc-likeqmemberson the handle, one disposed on each side of thetop for clamping thfli'lIlllfiIf'QIl'ClS of the ribs between: the sameforrholding Jthe-top in operative post tion; one of said- 'disomem'bersbeing ,slidable:

on the handle for permitting the ribs be moved "in'a direction towardthe handle in lowering the umbrella.

In testimony whereof, .I have subscribed my name. 7 V

JOHN-J. CLARK.

